Weekend Edition: Cars with wings, boats with wheels, and the ultimate snowmobile

We're no strangers to outlandish transport options here at New Atlas, and three stellar examples made news this week: Klein Vision's AirCar, the Iguana amphibious boat, and an all-electric Antarctic explorer Chris Weiss aptly describes as a "snow-and-ice-hungry all-terrain mini-tank." Throw in plans for the world's biggest green hydrogen plant, a face mask that detects COVID-19, and a decidedly medieval weight-loss device, and you've got yourself a fascinating week in innovation. Noel McKeegan Editor-in-Chief [Aircraft]( [Klein Vision's transforming AirCar makes first inter-city flight]( [Should the AirCar go into production, pilots will be able to hop between city airports, land on the runway and then drive to their final destination – all using the same vehicle]( After taking to the air for the first time last year, Klein Vision's AirCar has now aced its first inter-city flight – taking off from Nitra airport, landing in Bratislava some 35 minutes later, and then heading into the Slovakian capital by road. [Read more]( [Marine]( [Iguana prepares to launch the world's fastest amphibious boat]( [The Iguana Pro, a six-seat military and emergency-focused RIB, forms the basis for what Iguana says will be the world's fastest amphibious boat]( French company Iguana is taking aim at the record books with a new amphibious boat patterned after its military and emergency offerings, and designed to outsprint every other amphibian on the market with a peak output of 900 horsepower. [Read more]( New Atlas Plus [Support New Atlas and get our ad-free, premium layout]( New Atlas has been a reliable source of inspiring science and technology stories for almost two decades. Now we’re asking for your support so we can continue to deliver no-nonsense, independent journalism – without the distraction of ads. [Read more]( [Automotive]( [Venturi's cutting-edge electric polar explorer readies for Antarctica]( [The Antarctica prepares for polar research duty]( The all-electric Venturi Antarctica has been evolving for over a decade, preparing to tackle the harsh weather and terrain of Antarctica. The extreme EV enters its third iteration this month as it prepares to embark on its grand Antarctic mission. [Read more]( [Energy]( [World's biggest green hydrogen project announced for Kazakhstan]( [Photoshopped image: German company Svevind is planning a monster 45-gigawatt renewable energy scheme in Kazakhstan]( Germany's Svevind has announced plans for a colossal green hydrogen project that will place some 45 gigawatts of wind and solar energy generation on the vast steppes of Kazakhstan to produce around three million tonnes of green hydrogen annually. [Read more]( [Energy]( [Lithium strips take next-gen battery into record-breaking territory]( [Scientists in the US have developed a novel lithium-metal battery that retains its functionality over 600 cycles]( A research group in the US has taken a significant step forward with a design for a long-lasting lithium metal battery with high capacity, which remained functional for a record-breaking number of charging cycles. [Read more]( [Science]( [MIT and Harvard engineers develop face mask that detects COVID-19]( [New wearable freeze-dried cell-free technology is claimed to be as accurate as a gold-standard PCR test in detecting the presence of SARS-CoV-2]( Researchers have developed a face mask that can detect SARS-CoV-2 in a wearer’s breath within just 90 minutes. The sensor technology can be programmed to detect any kind of virus or toxin and is small enough to be integrated into clothing fabrics. [Read more]( Advertisement [Exclusive VPN Plan for Just $1.92 per month]( Ultra-fast speeds, 10 multi logins, 24-hour support, a 31-day money back guarantee and no logs are just some of the benefits of PureVPN. Right now you can get 3 years of this premier VPN service for just $1.92 per month, that’s a whopping 82% saving. [Read more]( [Health & Wellbeing]( [DentalSlim weight-loss device literally locks your mouth shut]( [Silicone-based cheek protectors stop the DentalSlim device from cutting patients' mouths]( UK and University of Otago researchers have presented a "world-first weight loss device," which attaches to the teeth and prevents patients from opening their mouths wider than 2 mm using "magnetic devices and custom-manufactured locking bolts." [Read more]( [Aircraft]( [Rotor X's quad-rotor eVTOL promises extreme efficiency and autorotation]( [The RX eTransporter claims extremely impressive range, payload and endurance figures for a non-transitioning eVTOL air taxi]( Rotor X plans to break into the air taxi market with an aircraft that's "dramatically more efficient and less expensive than all other eVTOL concepts being proposed or developed today" – and it's also one of the few eVTOLs capable of autorotation. [Read more]( [Environment]( [Antarctic lake disappears after ice shelf fractures]( [Landsat 8 images show the Antarctic ice lake before (left) and after it drained]( An Antarctic lake holding twice the volume of water as San Diego Bay in California has vanished after 600 to 750 million cubic meters of water drained through the ice and into the ocean during the 2019 Antarctic winter. [Read more]( [Energy]( [Thermoelectric generator contrasts heat of Sun and cold of space]( [A diagram of the new thermoelectric generator]( Thermoelectric generators produce an electric current through a temperature gradient. Now, engineers have created a new device that absorbs heat from the Sun on one surface and emits it from another, allowing it to generate electricity day and night. [Read more]( [Health & Wellbeing]( [Dementia-fighting experimental drug moves to human trials]( [A new drug called SAK3 has shown promising preclinical results in animal models of Alzheimer's and Lewy Body dementia]( After years of preclinical work researchers have announced a new drug treatment for dementia is ready to move to human trials. Animal studies have shown the drug to improve cognition and reduce signs of neurodegeneration in several dementia-causing diseases. [Read more]( [Health & Wellbeing]( [New clues point to the liver playing a causal role in type 2 diabetes]( [Researchers hypothesize excess production of a neurotransmitter in the liver could be a causal factor in type 2 diabetes]( Researchers believe they have found evidence indicating excess production of a neurotransmitter in the liver could be a causal factor in the onset of insulin resistance. The discovery points to preventative treatments for type 2 diabetes. [Read more]( [Tiny Houses]( [Compact tiny house offers well-stocked kitchen and lots of storage]( [Scotty The Tiny House's kitchen includes a seating area for two with bifold windows. The kitchen benches are slightly higher than you might find in other builds, to suit the owners (who happen to be quite tall)]( Scotty The Tiny House was designed for a client with an architect in the family, meaning that drawings were provided showing exactly what was needed – a tiny house with a focus on storage space and offering a relatively large kitchen area. [Read more]( [Architecture]( [Asymmetrical tower wears core on the outside to make more room inside]( [Hanking Center in Shenzhen, China, is the tallest detached-core skyscraper in the world and reaches a maximum height of 359.8 m (1,180 ft)]( Rising to a height of 359.8 m, the Hanking Center stands out even in the skyscraper-packed Shenzhen, China, thanks to its extraordinary form. The asymmetrical tower is defined by a detached core that allows for greater flexibility inside. [Read more]( [Outdoors]( [Thin SlideKick multi-tool is made for pockets]( [The SlideKick is presently on Kickstarter]( Although most compact multitools are also known as everyday carry (EDC) tools, it can often be difficult to everyday-carry them in your pocket. That isn't the case with the SlideKick, however, which is designed to be sleek and pocketable. [Read more]( You are receiving this email because you signed up for our daily newsletter at [newatlas.com]( (or [gizmag.com]( before August 2016). [Update profile]( | [Unsubscribe]( Copyright New Atlas © 2021